Let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us.

The Battelle Darby Creek Metropark is one of my favorite places to run.

The Ohio River Road Runners Club puts on great events.

Trail running is my favorite running.

I didn’t specifically train for this 10K, I haven’t done any speed work in weeks or longer. I didn’t want to derail my training for the Fall 50 and did a 22 mile run on Wednesday. I was up until midnight last night. My plan was to treat this as a training run, if i finished at an 11 minute mile pace i would be happy.

And then the race director said go.

I assumed my legs would be sore from having already run over 40 miles this week. I was surprised how easily my legs turned as the energy of 75 other runners pushed me forward. I looked down at my watch after the first mile and was at an 8:30 pace.

Time to change plans.

While the first stretch of the race was a paved trail that looped around the parking area, the rest was what great runs are made of: trails of dirt, hills, rocks, and roots.

I have run these trails many times. The trail paralleled Darby Creek and i recognized the climb we were making toward an open meadow. I was less than excited to know we’d be running a mile through prairie grass. A couple of weeks ago i bonked out after bushwhacking through some high grasses. Fortunately it was cut lower than I expected and we returned to the cover of trees without losing pace. My favorite part of the course featured some steep hills, before returning back to the creek.

Coming out of the woods, and to the finish, i was able to sprint hard. Unfortunately, this segment was very short and i could’ve gone longer and harder. As the timing chip was cut from my shoe, i was asked “how old are you?” I replied, 51. A pint beer glass was handed to me with the statement “congratulations, first place in age group.”

First place in age group? I was shocked.

In my 51 years, i have never gotten first place in anything athletic. Not in an individual or team sport. I was the last kid picked as teams divided in elementary school and our little league team went 0-16. I didn’t train or rest for this race. And yet, a run on a beautiful course with great people resulted in an unexpected affirmation.

Over the years, I’ve grown to enjoy longer distance trail runs more than anything. I will run a Thanksgiving Turkey Trot, or participate in an event like the Hangry Race Series solely for the cause, but haven’t planned my race schedule around a 5K in several years.

However, it is good when opportunity pushes me to do something I normally wouldn’t.

At the invitation of the unofficial leader of the Possum Racing Team (Mark Carroll), about 10 Possums participated in the unofficial 5K club championship. As a group more oriented to community than competition, and distance to speed, none of us saw this as battle for the fastest time, but as an opportunity to get together, benefit local veterans, and support the Hilltop neighborhood.

Some of the pre-race Possums

For me, the most enjoyable part of the morning was simply the opportunity to hang out with really cool people who share laughter and a running addiction. About half of us were either running home after the run or planning another run for later in the day. We are people with a running problem and it was this 5K that gave us the opportunity to come together.

The Hilltop USA 5K took place on the recently completed Camp Chase Trail. The segment we ran was flat and relatively unremarkable, compared to the wooded trails I’ve been racing in this year. However, the trail is part of the Ohio to Erie Trail that stretches from Cincinnati to Cleveland and US Bicycle Route 50 that goes from Indiana to Washington DC.

Over 250 people crowded on the narrow sidewalk and after counting down from five we were off.

My “A” goal was to break 24 minutes, my “B” goal was to set a personal record faster than the previous mark of 24:20, and my “C” goal was to take whatever the day would give me. I set these goals without specifically preparing for this event. I did not curtail my higher mileage training for the Fall 50 or pursuit of the Run the Year 2018 ambition. I did not do specific speed work or take any rest in preparation for the 5K. Instead, I truly decided to take what my body would give me. My plan was to run the first two miles around a 7:45 pace and then put the hammer down as much as I could for mile three and some change.

All went to plan for the first two miles, but when it came time to kick it up a notch for mile three, there was nothing extra there. Part of this came from drinking an iced mocha before the race. The milk and cream of the mocha were not making my stomach happy in the third mile. In fact, I coughed hard numerous times and started to worry that I was going to puke. I started to do math in my head, wondering if I could throw up and still make a PR. Fortunately, I did not have to test this theory.

By the end of the third mile, my stomach settled down. From a distance, I could see the finish line clock. As I got closer, the numbers clicked to 24 minutes. If I gave it all I had, I could set a personal record. I ran the last tenth of a mile as fast as I could and finished with a chip time of 24:09, breaking my best by 11 seconds and coming in 20th overall.

With no intentional preparation for this race, I finished ecstatic with the result and celebrated with a 10K run back home. In contrast to the race where I carefully monitored my speed, I ran home leisurely and simply enjoying the day.

Left to my own devices, I would have never signed up for a 5K in July. But thanks to the Possum community, I had a great time, got to see good friends, and help out veterans in one of the more disenfranchised neighborhoods of Columbus. People coming together is the best of America.

I normally wait until the end of the year to do this, but there has been so much good music this year and it is too hot to do yard work. So without any thought or analysis, here are my top 10 albums of the year (so far). Let me know what I’m missing.

I was asked today if I ever get bored running. The simple answer is no. The more complicated answer comes in the fact that I am always training for something, which brings intention. Also, through running I discover something new every day and running gives me the opportunity to listen to great music.

One of my favorite things to do is to design a run to match the length of an album. I like to leave the house on the first note of a record and time the run so I am back at the door on the final beat.

Today, I woke up and remembered today was the release of the new Florence + the Machine album, High as Hope. I’ve been a big Florence fan for many years and have run to her previous albums countless times. Yet, I wondered if the new album could live up to the old favorites.

I was not disappointed.

At a time where so much music seems polished, clean, and over-produced, Florence is honest, emotional, and raw. She lays open a broken heart, apologizes to her sister for ruining her birthday, and even cries out for a Big God, “big enough to fill you up”. She crashes to the ground in “Sky Full of Song” admitting, “I’ve been flying for too long I couldn’t hide from the thunder” while her solitary voice soars in “No Choir,” with honesty, “And it’s hard to write about being happy, ‘Cause the older I get I find that happiness is an extremely uneventful subject.”

Not every Florence song has the RPMs of a typical running anthem (although the Machine’s powerful, signature bass drum makes its appearances) but the emotional edges create a greater depth of motivation.

Florence embodies the angst of a teenager coupled with the hard-earned wisdom far beyond her years . Her beautiful voice and literal confessions combine for what might be the best Florence album yet.

“Are you on ten yet? Are you on ten yet? I live on ten.” -X from Black Panther

Yesterday at annual conference i did something i never did before. I picked up a race bib for a 5K. I felt like a kid at Christmas, excited to run with my fellow West Ohio United Methodists, next to Lake Erie, in beautiful weather.

The 5K itself started unlike any other race i have participated in. Bishop Gregory Palmer prayed for the hundreds gathered and then the runners and walkers sang the doxology:

As the chorus of the crowd said amen, the voice of Kendrick Lamar came alive in my ears. “Martin had a dream, Martin had a dream, Kendrick have a dream.”

Every time i lace up my shoes for a run, I have a dream of running faster or stronger than ever before. Before this race, that dream really seemed nothing more than just a dream. I haven’t run a 5K in a couple of years and haven’t done the speed work or tapering one would do in preparation for a 5K. Most problematic, i only slept two or three hours last night, in an unfamiliar bed.

Nonetheless, I planned on going out and seeing what my body would give me and dreamed of a strong race.

As we ran around the Lakeside community, my dream was fulfilled. I started out fast (for me) and was able to maintain that pace for 3.1 miles. With a tired body and undertrained legs, the run wasn’t always easy. Around two miles in I saw a teenager in front of me skipping faster than i was running. That motivated me to pick up the pace and at least run fast enough to pass him.

As we came down the final stretch, i could see the finish clock and gave it my best. Getting closer, i could see the first numbers of the clock showing 24 minutes. I was surprised to see that i was within range of my fastest 5K. I finished within 11 seconds of my fastest ever 5K and 26th out of 350 some runners and walkers.

Credit to Noah who made a kicking playlist for me and to the organizers of the Light the Way 5K that raised over $10,000 for new church starts.

“Dance to the beat of the livin dead, lose sleep, baby, and stay away from bed. Raw power is sure to come a-runnin’ to you.” –Raw Power, The Stooges

The words of Iggy Pop appropriately echoed in my ears as we took the first steps of the Playin’ Possum 50K.

For an ultramarathon, something more is needed than raw power. Raw power can get you through the hectic sprint of a 5K, but where does the power come from to run distances longer than a marathon? It comes from a place deeper than one’s physical ability.

It has often been said that ultra-running is 90 percent mental; and, I recently heard someone say that the other 10 percent is mental too.

This race proved that saying true.

I woke up the morning of the race feeling dejected. With Jennifer out of town to attend the college graduation of our nephew, I had not slept at all in two nights. Sleeplessness raised my insecurities. Less than a month ago I was rear-ended in a car accident and got whiplash that took away my peak training. My longest training run had been six weeks ago and my back and neck were still stiff from the accident.

Every possum race begins with a special Olympics member leading us in the oath, “”Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.” I did not know how my body would respond, but I could at least be brave in the attempt.

At Mark’s characteristically unceremonious instruction, we were off.

It was interesting to be back in the same woods where we ran the Seamus 30K two months ago. The sparse winter landscape had quickly blossomed in to a lush landscape, almost beyond recognition.

Knowing this part of the course, I began comfortably and strong. Four miles to the first fuel stop and then four miles back.

My “A” goal was to complete the race in under 6 hours. Over the first 8 miles, I was clicking off miles under pace. However, the heat (in the 70s) and the humidity (98 percent at the start) were making themselves known. As we ran back through the start line, I ditched my sweat-soaked shirt at the car and felt relieved to be a little less weighted.

The next few miles were equally familiar with a run through Delaware State Park, the crossing of an uncharacteristically low stream, and the run across the dam levee.

After the next aid station, the run included new ground for me, as we ran across and on the other side of the Delaware Lake Dam. Following a failed attempt of a pun with the word dam, the footing transitioned from a grass trail to a metal grate that stretched across the dam. With all the grace of a giraffe trying to jump rope, I tripped in the transition of the footing and found myself sprawled out on the grate. The Gatorade in my freshly filled water bottle spilled out in to the lake. The sound of my fall echoed and caught the attention of everyone around me.

I landed hard on my left knee, but did not want to acknowledge what that could mean. I got up as quickly as I could, gathered my bottle, and took off running. After we were off the dam, I looked down and was surprised I wasn’t bleeding from my knee. I got away with this one, and kept going.

For awhile, I ran with a pack of runners, with a man named Kevin holding court and sharing stores from his 108 ultramarathons. While this was a lot of fun, they were running about 30 seconds per mile faster than I wanted, so I started to hold back as the effects of the weather were becoming more apparent.

As the opening beats of “Freedom” started pounding, welcomed sprinkles fell on my skin.

By the time the song hit its pace, the skies opened and it rained hard.

It was glorious and refreshing and the most exciting part of the race.

But as soon as Kendrick Lamar asked, “Is it truth that you seek?” the rain was gone, with only humidity left in its wake.

However, the next few miles went well as I ran with a construction worker from Cincinnati and we talked community development and our shared interest in building mixed income communities.

As I approached the aid station at 18 miles, the heat was having its effect on me and I asked if we could make this a 30K instead of a 50K. I was able to relatively keep my pace for the next four miles. However, around mile 22, I had to let go of the A goal, like a bully grabbing your wrist and ordering you to let go.

The next four miles were tough. I had gone from running for the length of songs and walking between songs, to walking more than running.

But one of the ironic truths of ultra running is that things don’t always get worse.

Remnant of the page

Around the marathon point of mile 26 I could feel my mojo return. The shaded path in the woods that led to a book we tore a page out of gave a break from the sun. While my “raw power” returned, by this point my calves were cramping. I had taken some electrolyte tabs on the run with me, but when I looked for them in my pockets they were gone. (Note to self, I need to get some kind of running belt. On this run I lost my gels, electrolyte tabs, and who knows what else fell out of my pockets).

When I got to the next aid station, a saint gave me a couple of electrolyte tabs that helped. Even better, a kid gave me two popsicles. As I walked away from the aid station I thought to myself, “How awesome is this? I am eating the most delicious popsicles I have ever had, on a beautiful trail in the woods, with cool people. I am a lucky man.”

As soon as I had that thought, a fellow runner came up next to me and said, “let’s finish this thing.” That was all I needed and I ran most of the next two miles. Not as fast as the first miles, but I was moving well.

Until I realized I had farther to go than my GPS watch led me to believe.

I moved with the idea that when we hit 31 miles we would be done. But I knew this trail well enough that when my watch said we were at 30 miles that we were more than a mile from the finish line. For some reason, this really bothered me, more than it should’ve. I don’t know if I ran an extra mile somewhere or if my GPS was off, but it demoralized me to know I was going to have to run farther than planned. An ultra brain is not necessarily a logical brain.

I finally came out in to a clearing. In my frustrated thinking I asked a volunteer where I was and she pointed to the familiar curve before the finish line.

“Hey ho, let’s go” –Blitzkrieg Bop, The Ramones

I “sprinted” the last quarter mile or so to the finish line. The dozens of people gathered roared like a stadium crowd. The race director congratulated me at the finish and I asked him if he was going to charge me for the extra mile.

We did it.

The raw power I needed did not come from myself or from the trail, but from “the communion of saints” that carried me.

The one instruction given before any possum race is that if you don’t make a new friend on the course, you are doing it wrong. I made about four or five new friends and found inspiration from many more. A woman named Shelly ran up on me around mile 27 looking like she just started with boundless energy. When I asked her what training plan she used, she said “what feels good.” I was awed by a man whose shoes literally fell apart and he went on and ran barefoot on a trail of roots and rocks. The generosity of volunteers and excitement of kids lifted me.

Every time a new song came on during this run, I prayed for someone. I prayed for those who donated to the run and for many more. I learned that as I think about someone else and the struggles they have overcome in their lives, it takes the focus off “me” and the inconveniences of being warm or having muscle cramps. It moved my focus off myself and reminded me that even in this most individual of sports, it is not all about me.

And yet, I was back at it this morning, running amongst the blossoms of spring. This is what being a “perseverance runner” is all about.

Everyday I spend time with people who have a perseverance much greater than my own. As I lead worship several times a week, I am struck by the faithfulness of people who live through the stress, uncertainty, and violence of poverty, but continue moving forward anyway.

Join us as we move forward together

At Church and Community Development for All People, we are working to offer the gifts of abundant health to a community of people often disenfranchised. Since the opening of our new market, participation has grown to over 300 people a day. We are transforming the health of people and place.

As we grow to our next level, I want to invite you to support us in our Forward Together campaign that is raising $1 million for property acquisition and program development. On May 19, I will be running in the Playin’ Possum 50K. You can sponsor me by clicking here and together we will accompany people to be practitioners of their own health as together we build perseverance.